Gas-engine.



W. G. ABBOTT, JB.

GAS ENGINE APPLICATION FILED DEU. 30, 1905.

UNITED STA-.TES PATENT oinicl.

WILLIAM G. ABBOTT, JB., F PHILADELPHIA, PENNBYLVSANIA.

' Gas-ENGINE.

Specification ot Letters Patent.

yApplication filed December 30, 1905. Serial No. 293,992.

Patented June '7, 1910'.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, .WILLIAM G. ABBc'r'r, Jr., a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city and county of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, have 1nvented certain newand useful Im rovements in Gas-Engines, of which the fo owing is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to the use of volatilized hydrocarbons and the mixture of the l same with air to produce combustion, and

the use of the resulting energy 1n doing work.

One object of my invention is to utilize the products of said combustion in certain motors, having details of construction essential to the utilization of said hydrocarbons in a manner which I will hereinafter describe.

A further object of my invention is to volatilize or vaporize a hydrocarbon, and to introduce the said vapor of gas into the cylinder of a four cycle hydrocarbon engine. At the time of the introduction of the vapor into the cylinder, its temperature is such that the mean temperature of' the mixture will be hi h enough to cause a kindling or burning of the same. As is well known in this art, the combustion is usually effected by the introduction into a combustion chamber of a hydrocarbon oil, gas or vapor in the presence of air usually compressed. This mixture of gas and air is called the charge and the combustion of the same may be caused at predetermined times by bringing it into Contact with some igniting means, such as an electric spark or flame. Some charges, however, may be burned without the application of any ignition means. lThis is true in cases Where the mean temperature of the mixture of the hydrocarbon and air is equal to or exceeds the kindling temperature of the former. This kindling temperature in the mixture is usually obtained by compressing the charge or compressingthe air-before mixing or heating the charge or heating the air before mixing in some other manner. In my invention, however, I obtain the kindling temperature for the charge by heating and compressing the vapor before the same is introduced into the combustion chamber or into the presence of the air, thus yenabling the use of air at a much lower temperature and degree of compression than that usually employed in four cycle engines.

lcylindrical portion.

Further objects of my invention will appear hereinafter. In the accompanying drawings, Fi re 1 1s a fragmentary longitudinal sectiona view of a com ound four-cycle engine constructed 1n accor ance with this invention; Fig. 2 an elevation partly in section of details of the same; Flg. 3 an enlarged horizontal fragmentary section of a portion of the same; and F i 4: a fragmentary longitudinal section o a modified form of this invention.

Referring to Fig. 1, one embodiment of this inventlon comprises two high pressure water jacketed four cycle engine cylinders 1 1, having therein pistons 2-'2 and piston rods 3-3. Behind the pistons are located the' inwardly opening poppet valves 4-4. The lower cylinder heads may be bolted on and the piston rods reciprocate through stufin boxes constructed in the usual manner. ttached to the upper sides of the cylinders are the vaporizers 5-5, the details of which will be hereinafter described. These vaporizers have communication with the Working end of the cylinders through the passages 6*-6, the said passages being opened and closed by pro er valve action.

Screwed into the upper eads of the cylinders are the valve chambers, each of which consists of a cylindrical portion 7, having oricestherein 8 and 9, and the annularly channeled rings 10 and 11 driven down over said cylinder, to have their channels coincide with the orifices 8 and 9. A valve plug 12 reciprocates up and dow'n in each cylinder to open and 'close the orifice leading to said channels. This plug contains longitudinal channels or passages 13 and a central passage for the reciprocating valve stem 14,

which opens and closes the poppet valve 15 at the bottom of the Valve chamber. The top of each chamber is closed by a head 16, which is screwed on to the exterior of the This head contains stufling boxes for the reciprocating valve stem 14 and for the plunger rod which reciprocates the valve plug 12.

A low pressure single acting expansiony 3 cylinder 17 is provide having a plston 18 therein and a piston rod operated by the exhaust gases of the other two cylinders. In the head of the cylinder 17 is screwed a valvechamber similar to that of the cylinders 1 and 2. This valve chamber consists of a cylindrical portion 20, having orifices therein 21 and 22. Over the said orifices on the outside of the cylindrical portion are driven or screwed down annular channeled rings 23 and 24, the channels in the said rings coinciding with the orifices in the cylindrical portion.r A piston like valve plug 25, is reci rocated up and down in this valve chamber y means of the plunger rod 26, to alternately open and close said orifices.

A compressed air tank or chamber 27 is provided, leading from which are two pipes 28 containin cocks 29. In the upper annular channele rings of the valve chambers on the cylinders 1-1 are ports, out of which lead the pipes 30-30, w ich pipes connect up said ports with the compressed air tank 27. On each end of the compressed air tank is a dome 31, into one of which leads an exhaust pipe 32 from a port in the lower annular channeled ring of the valve chamber on the low pressure cylinder 17. The domes 31-31 are connected up with each other by means of a series of plpes 33, running longitudinally through the compressed air tank. The pipes 34-34 connect up ports in the lower annular channeled rings on the cylinders 1-1 with the ports of the upper annular channeled ring on the cylinder 17.

Each of the vaporizers 5 comprises, as shown in Fig. 3, a vaporizin chamber 35, havin a assage 36 throng the middle thereo and anopening in each corner closed by screw plugs 37, which may be removed in order to gain access to the vaporizer for cleaning or other urposes. The said vaporizer may be ma e out of a single castmg bored in four directions, to form the passage around the central portion. A tube 38 screwed into the cylinder 1 supports the said vaporizer, the vaporizer being slid over the tube until close against the cylinder, and secured thereto by a screw plug 39, in which is located the packin box for the needle 40, which extends axialy through the tube 38 and is adapted to close the valve seat 41. This valve seat opens into the passage 6, which leads into the working end of the cylinder.

A modied form of the valve chambers illustrated in Fig. 1 is shown in Fig. 4, in which the valve chamber 43 is provided with orts 44 and 45 and with an opening 46 eadin into the cylinder 1, which may be closedy the poppet 47. The ports 44 and 45 are alternately opened and closed by the piston like valve plug 48, which reciprocates I 1n the same manner as the valve plugs 12--12 previously described.

l Referring to Fig. 2, the vaporizer 5 illustrated in detail in Fi 3, is provided with a pipe 3 leading there om to the oil tank 1. O11 1s supplied to the vaporizer by means of `a pump 4 connected up with the pipe 3, and

actuated in any manner, as for instance by an eccentric 50 upon the crank shaft or other suitable shaft 50 driven by the engine, and a suitable eccentric strap 51 carried by the eccentric 50 and carrying an eccentricurod 51 pivoted to one end of a rocker 52, the other end of which is connected by a link 53 to the piston rod 54 of the pump. This pump may be arranged to furnlsh predetermined 'amounts to the vaporizer. For keeping up which carries a cam roller or follower 57V vwhich engages against a cam 58 adjustably mounted upon a shaft 59 rotated by the engine as usual. The cam 58 may be adjusted 1n any position upon its shaft 59 by means of a set screw 60 and by this adjustment the needle or fuel valve 40 may be operated at predetermined intervals.

In the operation of this enfrine, any volatile oil may be used, but I prefer those of the heavier type, such as kerosene, and for the purpose o this description will use the word kerosene, but any other suitable volatile oil may be used in its place. As heretofore described, the oil is stored in the tank 1, and is conveyed in the usual manner to the vaporizer 5. In this vaporizer heat is applied to the Walls of the central passage 36. This heat may be furnished by the exhaust of the engine or by any other suitable means, such as a flame, from a burner 65 supplied with fuel from thel interior of the vaporizer by means of a pipe 66, having a valve 67. The presence of the heat will cause the oil to volatilize rapidly, and the chamber being closed, the accumulated vapor becomes compressed. This pressure is kept at a certain degree by means of the pressure regulator 6. The temperature of the gas or vapor, both by virtue of the application of heat and its lown compression, is thus raised above its kindling temperature, that is, above a temperature at which it would immediately combine with air to cause combustion.

Referring to Fig. 1, the engine may be started by turning the same over to open the poppet valve 15, thus admitting compressed air from the tank 27 or other source, the air having been first compressed if necessary by turning over the engine by hand, or in any other similar manner, by the way of the pipe 30, port 9 and channels 12, into the lower end of the valve chamber and through the opening therein into the cylinder. The

being cut ofl, and also the rear end of the 'anim high pressure cylinders being open to the atmosphere by raising the poppets, or by other suitable means, and the cocks 29 and 29 being closed, the engine will now act like a compressed air engine, the air expanding against the piston 2 of the left hand cylinder, and the iSton, on its return stroke, forcing the partially ex landed air out by the poppet l5 through tlie exhaust pipe 34, and into the low pressure cylinder 17.

On the next forward stroke of the piston 2 in the left hand cylinder this operation is repeated. After the engine is thus started, the compressor sides of the pistons may be closed, and the cocks 29 and 29 may be opened and the valves in the vaporizer put in operation, in order that the regular cycle of the engine may be carried out. Of course, it is understood that the reci rocating valves in the valve chambers an vaporizers, together with the piston rods, are connected up with suitable eccentrics and cranks on the crank shaft, the construction and operation of which is old in the art and, therefore, needs no illustration. It may be said, however, that the cranks which operate the pistons of the high pressure cylinders work together in such a manner as to causethe pistons 2-2 to have a parallel stroke, and the crank of the low pressure c linder is in such a case opposite those of t e high pressure cylinders, thus causing the piston 18 to have an alternate stroke with the pistons 2 2. The strokes of the high pressure pistons, however, are not the same, but are 'one half cycle apart; that is, the outward working stroke in one c linder takes place during the eriod of the idle stroke in the other cyliner. This causes them lto exhaust alternately, the said exhausts making each outward stroke of the low pressure cylinder a working stroke.

Assuming that the engine has been started and that the piston 2 in the right hand cylinder is at the end of its forward stroke, as indicated in Fig. 1, and that a charge of compressed air has been admitted in the cylinder in the rear of the piston, the said piston begins its return st-roke, compressing the air, which air is heated by its own compression. At or about the end of the return stroke the valve in the vaporizer is opened, and the hot vapor is forced int-o the cylinder through the narrow passage 6 by virtue of its own compression, which is much higher than that of the compressed air.

As heretofore stated, the compressed air is at a lower temperature than that of the injected vapor, and on their mixing in front of the piston their mean temperature will be egual to or above the kindling temperature o the .va or, which will instantly take lire, and com ustion thus may be carried on while the mixture is expanding until the piston 2 reaches the end of its return stroke,

or the combustion may be cut off at any period during said stroke by adjust-ing the valve gear in a well known manner to close said Valve in the vapor chamber at a predetermined time.

While the piston 2 in the right hand cylinder is thus being forced down on its forward stroke by the expanding of the burning gases, the piston 2 of thc left hand cylinder is drawing in'a fresh charge of compressed air from the tank 27 through the po pet valve 15.

n the third and return stroke of the piston 2 of the right hand cylinder the poppet valve 15 opens, and the burned-gases are expelled through the pipe 34 into the low pressure engine 17, where they act expansively in a manner similar to that of a steam engine. The return stroke of the piston 2 of the left hand cylinder, which takes place simultaneously with the return stroke of the piston in the right hand cylinder, the poppet valve 15 being closed, compresses the air, and the operation of admitting the va or and burning the same takes lace in a manner to that of the right hand cylinder, and on its second return stroke the poppet valve 15 is opened, and the burned gases are expelled through the pipe 34 into the low pressure cylinder, which acts again expansively, according to the principle of low pressure engines.

Every return stroke of the piston 18 of the low pressure cylinder expels the burned gases, through the exhaust pipe 32, into a asA chamber 31 on the right hand side of the air into a chamber 31 on the left han side of the air tank, from whence they are expelled into the atmosphere. The expelling of the burning gases through the com ressed air tank serves as a means for heating the air and further compressing the same within the tank.

Duringthis cycle of the engine, which is commonly known as a four cycle, the valve plugs 12-12 reciprocate. in such a manner that when the compressed air is to be admitted into\ one of the high pressure cylinders, the top of the plug is down below the upper port, and the compressed air enters rom the pipe 30 into said'port and into the chamber from the top of said plug, down through the longitudinal channels in the plug, and out through the poppet valve in the bottom of the chamber into the cylinder. When the exhaust gases are to be discharged from the cylinders, the plug is raised above the lower portof the chamber, as shown in its position on the left hand cylinder. Thepoppet valve 15 being open, the burned gases ass through, up into the lower portion ofp the chamber, and out through the port 8 into the pipe 34, and into the upper part of the chamber of the iso low pressure cylinder, where, the plug being in its lowered position, the gases ass through the channels in the same down into the cylinder, and act expansivcly, as heretofore described.

yAt every return stroke of the pistons 2 air is drawn in through the poppet valves L1--4, and at every forward stroke of said pistons the said air is compressed and forced through the ipes 28 into the air compressor 27. Tins, in the operation of this engine, the air receives three compressions and three heatings; first, by the initial compression at the back of the pistons and the heat due to said com ression; secondly, the com ression and heatingv due to the passing of he hot exhaust gases through the air tank 27 and thirdly, due to the final com pression and the heat resulting from theV same during the return stroke of the piston when the air is admitted to the working side of the same.

This distribution of the heating and compressing of the air into three separate charges is much less violent, and balances the engine in a more efficient manner `than where the compression and heating takes place entirely in the cylinder. The partial compression of the air before it enters the cylinder permits a greater amount of combustion to take place. As heretofore stated, the hot vapor may be admitted during the whole or a portion ofthe stroke, thus enabling a more constant pressure to be obtained against the piston than if the same was admitted at the initial part of the stroke only, and it further enables a eater quantity of vapor to be burned during the working stroke. The greater the amount of gases burned, the greater is the power of the engine during the working stroke. By admitting the vapor in a highly heated and compressed condition, the combustion of an exceedingly large amount thereof is effected during the working stroke of the piston, thus greatly increasing the power and eliciency of the engine. By having the exhaust ports in the lower end of the valve chambers and below the reciprocating plugs, when the said ports are open the exhaust gases pass out of' the same without heating the other parts of the chamber, and at the same time, when the compressed air passes down through the channels in the plug, its temperature,being much lower than that of the exhaust gases, has a tendency to cool any parts which have been heated. Y

Although only one form of this invention has been illustrated, it is obvious that many changes might be made in the construction shown without departing from the spirit of this invention or the scope of the appended claims. 4

What I desire to claim andy secure by Letters Patent is as follows:

1. In a compound gas engine, a pair of high pressure cylinders, one side of each operating as an air compressor, an air reset@ voir connected to said air compressors, means` forsupplyin compressed air from said reservoir to sai. high pressure cylinders, a low pressure cylinder, and means for supplying said low pressure cylinder with the exhaust gases of t e high pressure cylinders.

.2. In a compound gas engine, a pair of high pressure cylinders, one side of each operating as an air compressor, an air reservoir connected to said air compressors, means for supplyingcompressed air from said reservoir to said high pressure cylinders, a low pressure cylinder, means for supplying said low pressure cylinder with exhaust gases of the high pressure cylinders, and means for utilizing the exhaust, gases from the low pressure cylinder for heating the air in the said reservoir.

3. In a compound gas engine, a pair of high pressure cylinders having pistons, one si e'of each cylinder operating as an air compressor, the working strokes of one high pressure piston alternating with those of the other, an air reservoir connected to said air compressors,l ymeans for supplying com-V pressed air from said reservoir to said high pressure cylinders, a low pressure cylinder, mea ns for supplying the said low pressure cylinder with the exhaust gases from the high pressure cylinders, and means for utilizing the exhaust gases from the low pressure cylinder for heating the air inthe said reservoir.

4. In a compound gas engine, the combination with a air of high pressure cylinders, one side o each cylinder bein adapted to operate as an air compressor, o a vaporizer connected with the working side of each high pressure cylinder, a positively actuated valve for establishing connection beervoir to said high pressure cylinders, a lorsr pressure cylinder, means for supplying said low pressure cylinder with the exhaust gases of the high pressure cylinders, and means for utilizing the exhaust gases from the low pressure cylinder for heating the air in the said reservoir. Y

5. In a compound engine, the combination with a pair of hi h ressure cylinders, one side of each cylinder heing adapted to operate as an air compressor, of a va orizer connected with the Working side o each high pressure cylinder, means for maintaining a constant pressure of the vapor in said vaporizers, and means for heating the vapor 1n said vaporizers, a ositively actuated Valve between each cylin er and its respective vaporizer, an air` reservoir connected to both of said air com ressors, positively actuated valves for supp ying compressed.- air from said 'reservoir to said high pressure cyllnders, a low pressure cylmder, a positively actuated valve for supplying the said low pressure cylinder with the exhaust gases of the high pressure cylinders and means for utilizing the exhaust gases from the lo w pressure cylinder forheating the air 1n said reservoir. A

6. In a compound gas engine, a pair of high pressure cylinders having pistons, one side of each operating as an air compressor, the working strokesl of one high pressure piston alternating with those of the o ther, an air reservoir connected to said a1r compressor, means for supplying compressed air from said reservoir to said high pressure cylinders, a low pressure cylinder and means for supplying said low pressure cyllnder with the exhaust gases of the high pressure cylinders.

7. In a compound gas engine, a palr of high pressure cylinders having pistons, one side of each operatin as an a1r compressor, the Working stroke o? one high pressure piston being in advance of that of the other, an air reservoir connected to said air compressors, means for supplying compressed air from said reservoir to said high pressure cylinders, a low pressure cylinder, means for supplying said low pressure cylinder With the exhaust gases of the high pressure cylinders, and means for utilizing the exhaust gases from the low pressure cylinder for heating the air in the said reservoir.

8. In a compound gas engine, a pair of high ressure cylinders, and a low pressure cylin er, arranged in parallel, the low pressure cylinder being between the high pressure cylinders and one side of each high pressure cylinder operating as an air compressor, an air reservoir connectedv to the compressor ends of said cylinders, means for supplying compressed air from said reservoir to said high pressure cylinders, a low pressure cylinder, means for supplying said low pressure cylinder with the exhaust gases of the high pressure cylinders, and means for utilizing the exhaust gases from the low pressure cylinder for heating the air in said reservoir.

9. In a com ound engine, the combination With a pair o high pressure cylinders, and

a low pressure cylinder arranged in parallel, the low pressure cylinder being between the high pressure cylinders, one side of each high pressure cylinder being adapted to operate as an air compressor, of a vaporizer connected with the Working side of each high pressure cylinder, means for maintaining a uniform pressure of the vapor in said vaporizer, and means for heating the vapor in said vaporizer, a positively actuated valve between each cylinder and its respective vaporizer, an air reservoir, means connecting said reservoirto both of said compressors, positively actuated valves for supplyin compressed air from said reservoir to sal high pressure cylinders, a positlvely actuated valve for supplying the said low pressure cylinder with the exhaust gases of the high pressure cylinder, and means for utillzing the exhaust vgases from the low pressure cylinder for heating the air in said reservoir.

10. In a compound engine, the combination with a pair of high pressure c linders provided with separate plstons an piston rods, one side of each cylinder bein adapted to operate as an a1r compressor, o a vaporizer connected with each high pressure cylinder, an air reservoir connected to both of said air compressors, means for supplyin compressed air from said reservoir to said high pressure cylinders, a 10W pressure cylinder, means for supplying said 10W pressure cylinder with the exhaust gases of the high pressure cylinders, and means for utilizing the exhaust gases from the low pressure cylinder for heating the air in the said reservo1r.

11. In a compound gas engine, a pair of high pressure cylinders having pistons, one side of each cylinder operating as an air compressor, the Working strokes of one high pressure cylinder alternating with those of the other, each cylinder being provided with a vaporizer, an air reservolr connected to said air compressors, means for supplying compressed an' from said\reservoir to said high pressure cylinders, a low pressure cylinder provided with a piston, the Working strokes of the low pressure piston alternating With the Working strokes of the high pressure pistons, means for supplying the said low pressure vpiston with the exhaust gases from the high pressure cylinders, and means for utilizing the exhaust gases from the lovv pressure cylinder for heating the air in the said reservoir. l

12. In a compound gas engine, a pair of high pressure cylinders having pistons Inoving in unison, one side of each cylinder operating as an air compressor, the Working strokes of one high pressure piston alternating With those of the other, an air reservoir connected to said air compressors, means for supplying compressed air from said reservoir to said high pressure cylinders, a 10W pressure cylinder, means for supplying the said low pressure cylinder with the exhaust gases from the high pressure cylinders, and means for utilizing the exhaust gases from the low pressure cylinder for heating the air in the said reservoir.

13. In a compound gas engine, a pair of high pressure cylinders having pistons mov- 'ing in unison, one side of each cylinder operating as an air compressor, the working strokes of one high ressure piston alternating with those of t e other, an-'air reservoir connected to said air compressors, means for supplying compressed .air from said reservoir to said high pressuijencylinders, a low pressure cylinder aving a piston the working strokes of which alternate'with the v high pressure cylinders, a piston in each 'of sa1d cylinders, a separate piston -rod for. each of said plstons, said pist-on rods workin unison, one side of each of said cylin ers acting asan air compressor, an air reservoir connected to said air compressors,

" pressure cylin means for supplying. compressed air from said reservoir to sald high pressure cylinders, a low pressure cylinder provided with a separate plston rod the working strokes of which alternate with the working strokes 'of the said high pressure pistons, and means for supplying said low pressure cylinder with the exhaust gases of the high pressure cylinders.

15. In a compound gas engine, a pair of high pressure cylinders provlded with istons, the same side of each of said cylin ers acting as an air compressor, an air reservoir connected to said compressors, means for supplying compressed air lvfrom said reser- -voir to'said hi h pressure cylinders, a low pressure cylin er, a piston therefor, and means for supplying vthe said low pressure cylinder with the exhaust gases from said high pressure cylinders, the working strokes of said pistons being in the same direction.

16. In a compound gas engine, a pair of high -pressure cylinders rovlded w1th istons, the same side of eac of said cylin ers acting as an air compressor, an air reservoir connected to said compressors, means for supplying compressed air from said reseryo1r to said high pressure cylinders, a low means for supplylng the said low pressure cylinder with the exhaust gases from said highpressure cylinders, the working strokes of said pistons occurring at different periods respectively and in the same direction.

17. .In a compound gas engine, a pair of high pressure cylinders provided with istons, the same slde of each of said cylin ers acting as an air compressor, an air reesrvoir voir connected to said compressors, means for supplying compressed air from said reservolr to said h1 h pressure cylinders, a low pressure cylin er, a piston therefor, and means for supplying the said low presa piston therefor, and

nation with .a high pressure cylinder, one p side of which is a tedto operate as an air compressor, of an air reservoir connected to said air compressor, means for supplying compressed a1r from said reservoir to the other side of said high pressure cylinder, a low ressure cylinder, means for supplying said owpressure cylinder with the" exhaust gases of the high pressure cylinder, and means for utilizing the exhaust gases from the low ressure cylinder for heating the air in said reservoir.

19. In a compound gas engine, the combination with a high pressure cylinder, one side of which acts as an air compressor, of a vaporizer connected with the working side 'of said c linder, a positively actuated valve -inder with the exhaustV gases of the high pressure cylinder, and means for utilizing the exhaust gases from the lowT pressure cylinder for heating the air in the said reser- Vo1r.

20. In a compound gas engine, the combination with a high pressure cylinder, one side of which operates as an air com ressor, of a vaporizer Vcommunicating. with the other side of said cylinder, means for maintaining a constant pressure of the vapor in saidvaporizer, means for heating the vapor in said vaporizer, a positively actuated valve between said cylinder'and its vaporizer, an air reservoir connected to said air compressor, a positively actuated' valve for supplyingl compressed air from said reservoir to said igh pressure cylinder, a positively actuated valve for supplying the said low pressure cylinder with the exhaust gases of the high pressure cylinder, and means for utilizing the exhaust gases from the low pressure cylinder for heating the'air in said reservoir.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 29th day of December, A. D. 1905.

l WILLIAM G. ABBOTT, JR.

Witnesses:

WAI-.2mn A. HOLDEN, ALExANDER PARK. 

